My Surprise Mate

Dane moved Kyra’s bassinet from the living room into our bedroom.

As I got Kyra situated in our room, Dane went outside to talk to the guys and fill them in.

He wasn’t gone long and told me our house would be guarded from now until Devin is found.I had this gut feeling there was more going on than we realized.I couldn’t sleep at all, and Dane slept off and on.I lay there watching Kyra most of the night and every little noise I heard had me sitting up in bed.

Kyra woke up around five that morning and I decided to stay up for the day.

After getting us both dressed, I headed to the kitchen to make breakfast.

Kyra seemed to be her normal happy self just like any other morning, blissfully unaware of what was going on.

Unsure if all three guys had stayed outside all night or not, I opened the front door and stepped out to find Zayd standing near the steps, "Good morning," I told him.

He smiled at me as he walked up the steps, "Morning dear.You should still be asleep."

He pulled me in for a hug.

Zayd and Adria acted like parents I never had, and they always seemed to help ease my worries.

"I couldn’t sleep and, besides, Kyra woke up hungry this morning."

he smiled and nodded his head, "well she is a growing girl, and we tend to eat more than normal humans."

"l was going to offer some breakfast and coffee but wasn’t sure or Colby.

"I'll take some coffee," Zayd replied.

"Me too!" I turned to find Ash walking toward the porch.

Neither of them looked as tired as I felt this morning.I led them into the kitchen and started pouring them each a cup while they sat down at the table.

"Good morning little princess," Zayd cooed to Kyra.She smiled brightly at him as he picked her up.

"Did y’all stay outside the whole night?" I questioned them.

"Yes and no,"

Ash started, "Four people were guarding all night, but we did rotate out with three of our best warriors to be able to squeeze in a little sleep."

I nodded in understanding as I handed them their mugs.

"Don’t forget Adria was here periodically through the night too."

"I had no idea she was out here too."

I watched as Zayd and Ash exchanged a knowing look, "What you have never seen is pissed off Adria when her family is being threatened.She wasn’t necessarily coming out to help guard but more to make sure we were doing it the ‘right’ way."

Both guys began to laugh, "she had us stationed around the house so there wasn’t a single side left unprotected, and every 15 minutes we had to switch spots to keep us alert."

Zayd was shaking his head as he spoke.

Dane walked into the kitchen wearing only a pair of sweatpants that hung dangerously low on his hips.

"Did we wake you?" I asked as he wrapped his arms around me and rested his head on top of mine.

He was watching Zayd playing with Kyra.

"No, you didn’t wake me.It’s just time to get up."

The front door opened as Adria came rushing in, have no idea how much trouble you two were fixing to be in." she pointed her finger at Ash and Zayd.

"Holly invited us in for coffee,"

Zayd started telling her as he walked toward her with Kyra, "you know I would never leave this angel unprotected."

Adria sighed, "I know honey, I just...I won’t let them get to her."

Zayd handed Kyra to her, "None of us will,"

Ash finally spoke.

I looked at Dane when there was a light knock at the door, "It’s Genesis and Blaze,"

Ash said as he went to open the door.

"Good morning,"

Genesis greeted as she followed Blaze into the house.

Blaze went straight to Adria and began talking to Kyra.

After setting Kyra on her playmat, Adria came and sat down at the table with us, "Should we have our meeting now or later in the office?"

She cut straight to the point.

"We just need Colby here and we can do it now.No reason to wait." I answered.

"He’s on his way,"

Dane reached over, slipping his hand into mine.

a seat at the table with the rest of

and received many gasps

I was talking, making me feel as if they knew something the rest of us

looking back and forth between the

things that

squeezed my

raised my eyebrows as I stared

when

we are to believe that Devin and Nyla were able to not only bring him down but wound him

a very strict ruler.His command alone can even bring an Alpha to

didn’t want to hurt him," I repeated

babe, but in all honesty, Apollo could have taken them both down without hurting them.His command may not work on

other than what Dane pointed out, I couldn’t remember anything that would make me feel as

think Apollo is a

looked at Zayd this time who

any of us realized.I know this isn’t something you

Zayd told me gently.

little at the thought of being betrayed by my father, the father lam

you could

need you to find out as much as you can about this prophecy.Ash and Colby, I need training kicked back up and regular sweeps up to two miles outside the border done at least three times

heads, a resounding, "Yes Alpha" filled the

slowly left, "When your dad calls, you need

down next to me.I was now sitting on the

understand," I replied, not really in

want to stay home today,

the packhouse." I smiled at

then we can go together.I don’t want you out walking around by yourself, especially if you have

at him

next move would be? We walked together to the packhouse, stopping a few times to speak with a few people on

office next door to his where Adria and

large books in front of them that looked to be hundreds

"Any luck?"

her bounce seat.I’m pretty sure Kyra has toys, playpens, and play mats in every room in

and Genesis both looked at me shaking their heads, "Not yet, but we just

Adria replied.

read often.I carefully flipped through the pages as

the Moon Goddess has appeared in dreams before.But it doesn’t really go into

stated as she

get Blaze

fuss just as Dane walked through the door, "Any luck?" he asked as he

closed the book she was currently reading and stood stretching

on the phone; he said he would meet us downstairs for

hanging on the wall above the door, surprised to see

would explain Kyra’s

miss a meal,

downstairs together, meeting up with everyone as we entered the

sat Kyra in her highchair between her and

everything that has happened and is still happening, I couldn’t help but realize that even though Apollo has been friendly since meeting him, I don’t

our conversations are focused mainly on

it

I would ask about Devin, the prophecy, or how things were going there, Apollo would always quickly change the subject back to Kyra or give me very vague answers in

be," I murmured lost in my

think we should talk privately after

became one of worry, but he didn’t push the

but wonder if Apollo could be in on this with Devin? I mean, I know that Dane doesn’t really

my stomach felt like it was twisted into a thousand knots.I didn’t want to believe that Apollo’s intentions had been anything but good—unfortunately,

we finished eating lunch, Genesis and Adria took the kids to her house so they could take a nap while the rest of us went upstairs to

of this," I stated not waiting for everyone to

up in surprise

really thinking.Apollo was a little too friendly when he was here.He hasn’t been able to come back to visit in person since, but I have regular phone calls with him.Every phone call is about me and Kyra, mainly Kyra though.Anytime I ask about Devin, or how things are going there, or the

silence once I

stopped pacing the office

I agree with you.I do think Apollo is playing a part, but whether he is the brains or not I can’t say.I think that Devin is

my head as I thought about it,

the phone

I looked at Zayd.

was on the phone before lunch, and I

planning to come and speak with us.He wouldn’t say anything else other than he would be arriving

little, "Why not

at me, "Vampires are

down, "And your pacing is about to drive me

with a sigh, wishing none of this was

Zayd, "I spoke with Uncle Dayton for a

for Dane to continue, "I explained everything that was going on.He’s one of the very few people I fully trust to discuss this

looked something as drastic as moving a whole pack, but then again, there aren't too many things he wouldn’t

felt he needed to move his pack next

does he want to do

good reason to do it.Dayton said his loyalty lies with his family and, as far as the Royal Pack goes, his loyalty is with you.He’s never been

his loyalty wasn’t with Apollo, but with

knows me, but he has been willing to stand beside us without hesitation from

will have Adria call

stood from his chair, "remind Ash and Colby that Dominick will be coming sometime.We don’t

alone in the office, the